Excavator apparatus



June 2, 1931. c. o. HANsoN EXCAVATOR APPARATUS Filed DeC. 21, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l June2,1931. C; Q HANSON 1,808,408

EXCAVATOR APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2l, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mlm" June 2, 1931- c. o. H'ANsoN 1,808,408

` EXCAVATOR APPARATUS Filed Dec. 21. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 c. o. HANsoN 1,808,408

EXCAVATOR APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2l, 1927 5 Shets-Sheet 4 f www? g y w j misilll June 2, 1931.

2 wg W5 June 2, 1931. Q, HvANsON 1,808,408

EXcAvAToR APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2l, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLIFFORD O. HANSON'QOF TIFFIN, OHIO EXCAVATOR APPARATUS Application led'December l21, 1927. Serial No. 241,567.

motor. In the use of such a motor, the regular tractor transmission is used from the main motor shaft, but the back axle with its differential is removed and a solid drive shaft with a driving gear substituted. The

motor is so mounted that it may drive the hoisting drum on one side and the propel,

crowd, and swing motions of the machine through a train of gears on the other side.

There is also improved mechanism for transmitting the drive for the swing from the motor to the ring gear mounted on the chassis of the device.

Another feature of my invention is the improved construction of mechanism for crowding the dipper stick.

Another feature of my invention is the improved method of and mechanism for steering the machine. This mechanism is so constructed that Vin the forward travel of i the machine, it may be easily and 'readily steered by swinging or turning the cab to one side or the other. For example, swinging the cab to the right causes the machine to turn to the right, and vice versa.

Another 4feature of my invention is the improved back-stop mechanism which prevents the machine from being pushed backwardly during the digging operation.

Other features and advantages of my inventionwill'appear more fully as I proceed with my application. V i In that form of device embodying the features of my invention, shown in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view .in side elevation, Fig. 2 is a view taken as indicated by line 2, of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a view taken as indicated by line 3 of Fig. 1, Fig. 4

`is a view taken as indicated by line 4 of Fig.

1, Fig. 5 is a view taken as indicated by line 5 of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a view takenas'indicated by line 6 of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of one of the sprockets on the rear tread shaft showing the ratchet constituting a partr of the back-stop lnechanism, Fig. 8 is a view taken as indicated by line 8 of Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view of a part of the apparatus showing the swing mechanism, taken as indicated by the line 9` of Fig. 1. f

As shown in the drawings, the device comprises a cab 10 rotatably mounted on a chassis 11 supported on crawler or caterpillar treads 12 in the usual manner. 13 indicates thek shovel or dipper boom pivotally supported at 14,. in the usual manner and adapted to be raised orlowered by means of the rope 15 tied to its outer end and wound over a winch 16 controlled in the ordinary manner by means Motor mounting and dri/ve mecha/mism My invention comprises the use of a standard tractor o-r automobile internall combustion motor which, for example, may be a Fordson or a McCormick-Deering motor. Obviously, however, other types of motors maybe used. The motor is indicated in general by 20, and its forward end may be supported on the stand 21, the rear end may be supported inyany suitable manner as, for example, on the casting 22. It is to be understood that the motor is mounted in the cab 10 withl the stands 21 and 22 supported on the floor 10a' of the cab. In the Ause of the motor 20, the regular transmission is retained, except that the twopiece drive shaft with the differential is removed and a solid drive shaft 23 substituted with a driving gear 24.l These parts are.

18 The hoisting drum 25 is controlled in the l usual manner by means "of a clutch 28 which in turn is operated by theI clutch control rod 29. 30 indicates a suitable brake for retarding movement of the hoisting drum in unwinding. i i

The left hand end ofLthe drive shaft 23 carries a main drive pinion 31 adapted to Operate an intermediate gear 32 which in turn drives the gear 33 on the upper propel shaft 34. The shaft 34 carries a bevel gea-r 35 meshing with a bevel gear'36 on.l the vertical shaft 37 carrying on its lower end a bevel gear 38 meshing with a bevel gear 39 on the lower propel shaft 40. The axisf the vertical shaft 37 is co-incident with th axis of the pivot on which the cab 10 turns s0 lthat the turning of the cab does not interfere withthe train of gears just described. The ends of the lower propel shaft are mountedin suitable bearings 41 and carry forwardv drive chain sprockets 42 driving the chains 43 .which in turn drive the rear chain sprockets 44 on the rear shaft 45. Drive is effected from the shaft -45- to the caterpillar treads 12 by means of the usual driving sprockets 46.

The pinion 31 on the drive shaft 23 operating through the pinions 32 and 33 also drives the pinion'47 on the crowd shaft 48; The

crowd mechanism itself will be described more in detail hereinafter. v

The gear 31 operatingthrough the gear 32 also drives the intermediate gear 49 on the intermediate shaft 50, provided with a` gear 51 (see Fig. 9) driving the gear 52 on the swing shaft 53.v The details of the swing mechanism will be described hereinafter.

Uro/wd mechanism V The crowd mechanism is driven from the crowd shaft 48 and is well shown in Fig. 4. The gea-r 47 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 48 and carries a clutch element 54 rotating in one direction. On the other end of the shaft 48 is mounted another reversely rotating clutch element 55 driven by. the sprocket wheel 56 which in turn is driven by a chain 57 moved by sprockets 58 on the upper propel shaft 34. The shaft 48 carrying sprocket 59 is connected by a chain 60 to the double sprocket 61' which in turn .drives a chain 62 operating the sprocket 63 on the shaft 64 mounted on the boom 13. The shaft 64 carries the pinions 65 meshing with the rack bar 66 on the dipper stick 19 to give the crowd movement. In order to e'ect the crowd movement in either direction, the shaft 48 carrying the sprocket 59. is provided with clutch elements 67 and 68, either one of which is adapted'to be engaged with one ofthe clutch elements 54, 55 in the usual manner by .means of the operating rod 69. The details of this clutch mechanism are well known and need not be specifically described here. It will suiice to say that movement of the rod 69 to either side, as shown in Fig. 4, will hlutch the shaft 48 carr 'n the sprocket/ 59 into either one of thev c utc elements 54, 55 to rotate the same in the desired direction.

keyed onto the shaft 53 adapted to be engaged by either of the elements 71b or 72b t0 rotate either one of the bevel gears 71 or 72. The clutch elements 71b and 72b are operated in the usual mannerb meansof the cones 75 and 76 controlled by the ar/ms 77 and 78 on the rod 79 which in turn is shifted by means ofthe bell-crank lever 80 with the forked end 80a embracing the pin 81. The bell-crank 80 is adapted to be shifted by the operating rod 82.

The bevel gears 71 and 72 mesh with the bevel gear 83 0n the shaft 84 carrying the pinion 85 (see Fig. 1) on its lower end. The pinion 85 meshes with the ring gear 86 on the chassis so that rotationof the pinion 85 rolls the same around the ring gear 86Vto swing the cab.

\ The steering mechanism driving sprockets, however, are rotatably mounted on the shaft 40 and provided with lugs 4E?.a adapted to be engaged by the nonrotatable jaw clutches 90 (sedeFig. 5). The

f clutches 90 are normally held in engagement 'Awith the sprockets by means of the spring 91. The jaw clutches are provided with pe-. ripheral grooves 92 engaged by the arms 93 on the end of the pivoted leverl 94. The lever 94 is pivoted at 94a. The forward ends of levers 94 are provided with holes through which project the ends of a cross-shaft 95 carrying thereon a block 96 provided with a shown in Fig. 6, rotation of the cabto theA right or the left will slidel the bar 95 to the right or the left to throw out either the right or left clutch 90. When one of the clutches 90 is thrown outthe corresponding sprocket will cease to revolve, causing the lexcavator to turn to that direction. When the cab is in the center, both clutches will be'engaged as shown in Fig. 5 and theexcavatorwill travel f straight ahead.

The back-stop mechanism 44h to permit the sprocket to turn in one direction but prevent reverse rotation. In this way, the excavator is permitted to move aheadl but is prevented from backing as the dipper is operated. If desired, the pin 111 can be turned over by means of the arm 113 so that reverse movement of the excavator is permitted, but forward movement prevented. l

While l have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modiications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as possible in view of the prior art.

A 4What I claim as new, and desire to secure by -Letters Patent, is:

l. An excavator of the character described comprising; a chassis mounted on traction members; a platform rotatably mounted on the chassis; a boom pivotally connected to the platform; a dip-per suspended from the end of the boom by a rope; a handle on the dipper with a rack bar; a crowd pinion on the boom engaging the rack bar on the dipper handle; an internal combustion motor power unit mounted on the platform having its longitudinal axis disposed in the same general direction as the boom and with a transverse drive shaft; said drive shaft being located at the end of said power unit nearest said boom a winch on one end of said drive shaft carrying the dipper rope; and drive connections from the other end of said drive shaft to move the traction members to propel the excavator, to operate the crowd pinion, and to rotate the platform on the chassis.

2. An excavator of the character described comprising; a chassis mounted on traction members; a platform rotatably mounted on the chassis; a boom pivotally connected to the platform; a dipper suspended from the end of the boom by a rope; a handle on the dipper with a rack bar; a crowd pinion on the boom enaging the rack bar on-the dipper handle; an internal combustion motor power unit of the vehicle-driving type mounted on the platformsaid unit being of the type having a longitudinal propel shaft, a transverse drive shaft replacing the differential and rear wheel shafts of said unit, said propel shaft being arranged in the same longitudinal direction as the boom, said transverse shaft being arranged at the end of the unit adjacent the boom and with its axis parallel to thepivotal axis ofthe boom; a winch on one end of said drive shaft carrying the dipper rope; and a drive connection from the other end of said drive shaft to move the traction members to propel the excavator.

3. An excavator of the character described comprising; a chassis mounted on traction members; a platform rotatably mounted on the chassis; a boom pivotally connected to the platform; a dip-per suspended from the end of the b-oom by a rope; a handle on the dipper with arack bar; a'crowd pinion on the boom engaging the rack bar on the dipper handle; an internal combustion motor power unit of the vehicle-driving type mounted on the platform, said unit being of the type having a longitudinal propel shaft, a transverse drive shaft replacing the differential and rear wheel shafts of said unit, said propel shaft being arranged in the same longitudinal direction as the boom, said transverse shaft being arranged at the end of the unit adjacent the boom and 'with its axis parallel to the pivotal axis of the boom; a winch on one end of said drive shaft carrying the dipper rope; and a drive connection from the other end of said drive to operate the crowd pinion.

4. An excavator of the character described comprising; a chassis mounted on traction members; a platform rotatably mounted on the chassis; a boom pivotally connected to the platform; a dipper suspended from the end of the boom by a rope; a handle on the dipper with a rack bar; a crowd pinion-on the boom engaging the rack bar onthe dipperhandle; an internal combustion motor power unit of the vehicle-drivin type mounted on the platform, said unit being of the type having a longitudinal propel shaft, a transverse drive shaft replacing t-he differential and rear -wheel shafts of said unit, said propel shaft being arranged in the same longitudinal direction as the boom, said transverse shaft being arranged at the end of the unit adjacent the boom and with its axis parallel to the pivotal axis of the boom; a winch on one end of said drive shaft carrying the dipper rope; and a drive connection from the other end of said drive shaft to rotate the platform.

5. An excavator of the character described comprising; a chassis mounted on traction members; a platform rotatably mounted on the chassis; a boom pivotally connected to the platform; a dipper suspended from the end of the boom by a rope; a handle on the dipper with a rack bar; a crowd pinion on the boom engaging the rack bar on the dipper handle; an internal combustion motor power unit of the vehicle-driving type mounted on the platform, said unit being of the type haying a longitudinal propel shaft, a transverse drive shaft replacing the differential and rear wheel shafts of said unit, said propel shaft being arranged in the same longitudinal direction as the boom, said transverse shaft being arranged at the end of the unit adjacent the boom and with its axis parallel to the pivotal axis of the boom; a ring gear on the chassis; a vertical shaft carried by the platform; a pinion on the lower end of the vertical shaft meshing with the ring gear; a swing shaft carried by the platform; driving connection between the swing shaft and the transverse drive shaft; and a driving connection between the swing shaft and the vert-ical shaft. Y

adjacent the boom and with its aXis parallel to the pivotal axis of the boom; and a winch on one end of said drive shaft carrying the dipperl rope,

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 14th day of December, 1927.

CLIFFORD O. I-IANSON.

6. An excavator of the character described comprising' a chassis mounted on traction membersfa, platform rotatably mounted on the chassis; a boom pivotally connected to the platform; a dipper suspended from the end of the boom by a rope; a handle on the dipper with a rack bar; a crowd pinion on the boom engaging the rack bar on the dipper handle; an internal combustion motor power unit of the vehicle-driving type mounted on the platform, said unit being of the type having a longitudinal propel shaft, a transverse drive shaft replacing the differential and rear wheel shafts of said unit, said propel shaft being arranged in the same longitudinal direction as the boom, -said transverse shaft being arranged at the end of the unit adjacent the boom and with its axis parallel to the pivotal axis of the boom; a ring gear on the chassis; a vertical shaft carried by the platform; a pinion on the lower end of the vertical shaft meshing with the ring gear; a swing shaft carried by the platform; driving connection between the swing shaft and the transverse drive shaft; and a reversible driving connection between the swing shaft and the vert-ical shaft.

7 An excavatorof the character described comprising; a chassismounted. on traction members; a platform rotatably mounted on the chassis; a boom pivotally connected to the platform; a dipper suspended from the end of the boom by a rope; a handle on the dipper with a rack bar; a crowd pinion on the boom engaging the rack bar on the dipper handle; an internalcombustion motor power unit of the vehicle-driving type mounted on the platform, said unit being of the type having a longitudinal propel shaft, a transverse drive shaft replacing the differential and rear wheel shafts of said unit, said propel shaft being arranged in the same longitudinal direction as the boom, said transverse shaft being arranged at the end of the unit 

